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Regulatory Barriers Hinder Access to Child Nutrition Programs

September 20, 2023

Beth Martino, CEO of Three Square Food Bank in Nevada, explained her organizations experience with unnecessary regulatory barriers hindering children’s ability to access child nutrition programs.

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Child Nutrition Enhancement Act

September 19, 2023

Today, September 19, the Child Nutrition Enhancement Act was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Greg Landsmen and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici to permanently:
• Increase reimbursement rates by 10 cent for each meal and snack
• Eliminate the tiering of family day care homes
• Allow family day care home providers to claim their own children’s meals for reimbursement

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Meal Pattern Minute: Chestnuts

September 15, 2023

How do chestnuts fit into the CACFP meal pattern?

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State Agency Collaboration Meeting

September 12, 2023

Do you work at a State agency in a position supporting the CACFP? Join NCA’s State Agency Collaboration meeting to earn about the newest NCA resources, hear about what’s happening in CACFP policy, get advocacy updates, and provide feedback about how we can support you.

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Meal Pattern Minute: Sugar Limits in Yogurt

September 9, 2023

What do you need to know about sugar limits in yogurt?

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CACFP Head Start Boot Camp is Here!

September 6, 2023

Looking for food program training? Delve into a comprehensive range of vital topics tailored to the unique needs of Head Start programs.

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State Agency Collaboration Meeting

September 12, 2023

Do you work at a State agency in a position supporting the CACFP? Join NCA’s State Agency Collaboration meeting to earn about the newest NCA resources, hear about what’s happening in CACFP policy, get advocacy updates, and provide feedback about how we can support you.

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CACFP Head Start Boot Camp is Here!

September 6, 2023

Looking for food program training? Delve into a comprehensive range of vital topics tailored to the unique needs of Head Start programs.

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Upcoming Virtual Events

August 21, 2023

Check out these virtual events coming up at NCA!

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2023 July Virtual Events

July 6, 2023

Check out these virtual events happening in July at NCA!

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2023 Virtual Summit Dates Announced

June 27, 2023

Looking for food program training? Join us each day for workshops on nutrition, program administration, operations, management, and more.

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National Child Nutrition Conference 2024: Call for Proposals!

June 12, 2023

Join us as a presenter at the National Child Nutrition Conference in San Diego! We’re now accepting presentation proposals.

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Grain-Based Desserts in the CACFP

June 30, 2017

Grain-based desserts are disallowed in the new CACFP meal patterns. Animal crackers and graham crackers still allowed.

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Accomodating Disabilities in the CACFP and SFSP

June 22, 2017

This is a summary of the Policy Memorandum on Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in the CACFP and SFSP.

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Transition Period for CNP Updates

May 27, 2017

This is a summary of the transition period for the updated Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Patterns.

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Taking Food Components Offsite in At-Risk

April 6, 2017

An update on taking food components offsite from the At-Risk Afterschool progam.

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Vegetable and Fruit Requirements

March 23, 2017

The updated meal pattern requirements regarding fruits and vegetables are outlined here.

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Q&A on Updated Meal Pattern Requirements

March 10, 2017

A summary of changes to the meal pattern with an emphasis on changes to the infant meal pattern.

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More Native Foods Added to the Food Buying Guide

September 6, 2023

The Child and Adult Care Food Program has new creditable foods listed on the USDA Food Buying Guide! If you are new to the FBG, this interactive tool allows for easy display, search, and navigation of food yield information. In addition, users can compare yield information, create a favorite foods list, and access tools, such as the Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW) and the Product Formulation Statement Workbook.

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We’re Expanding Our Spanish-Language Resources!

August 2, 2023

The Child and Adult Care Food Program community asked for more Spanish resources to be available on the National CACFP Sponsors Association website and we heard you! Available now in Spanish are more resources to help sponsors and providers with meal pattern requirements, best practices, and so much more!

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Program Comparison Chart: CACFP At-Risk Afterschool and SFSP

June 21, 2023

Serving meals to young people year-round benefits children, families, and care providers. To do this, many providers transition from operating the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool (ARAS) during the school year to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) while school is out. For an overview of the main differences between SFSP and CACFP ARAS, see the comparison chart below.

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NCA Support as Covid-19 Flexibilities Come to an End

June 16, 2023

NCA understands that the end of flexibilities will cause challenges for many CACFP sponsors and providers and we commend your continued commitment to providing nutritious meals and snacks to the children or adults in your care. In preparation for the end of the additional reimbursement, we have collected the following resources to help you successfully provide meals even if your available budget decreases.

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New Feature Available on the Exhibit A Grains Tool

March 22, 2023

The Exhibit A Grains Tool has a new feature that allows users to select their Program and Meal to filter the search results to only creditable grain items for their specific Program.

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New Factsheet for ECE Providers from the CDC

March 16, 2023

CDC created three new fact sheets for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers about Early Child Nutrition and Feeding. The fact sheets offer tips and best practices for supporting breastfeeding families, information about safe storage and handling of breastmilk, and strategies for introducing solid foods.

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Meal Pattern Minute: Chestnuts

September 15, 2023

How do chestnuts fit into the CACFP meal pattern?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Sugar Limits in Yogurt

September 9, 2023

What do you need to know about sugar limits in yogurt?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Deli Meats

September 1, 2023

What documentation is needed to serve deli meats in the CACFP?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Full-Strength Juice and Infants

August 25, 2023

Is full-strength juice creditable in the Infant Meal Pattern?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Plant-Based Meat Alternates

August 18, 2023

How do you know what plant-based foods can be credited as a meat/meat alternate?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Minimum Serving of Dried Fruits

August 11, 2023

If dried fruits credit for twice the volume of the fruit component, does that mean that the minimum serving is 1 tablespoon instead of 2 tablespoons?

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More Native Foods Added to the Food Buying Guide

September 6, 2023

The Child and Adult Care Food Program has new creditable foods listed on the USDA Food Buying Guide! If you are new to the FBG, this interactive tool allows for easy display, search, and navigation of food yield information. In addition, users can compare yield information, create a favorite foods list, and access tools, such as the Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW) and the Product Formulation Statement Workbook.

Read More

We’re Expanding Our Spanish-Language Resources!

August 2, 2023

The Child and Adult Care Food Program community asked for more Spanish resources to be available on the National CACFP Sponsors Association website and we heard you! Available now in Spanish are more resources to help sponsors and providers with meal pattern requirements, best practices, and so much more!

Read More

Program Comparison Chart: CACFP At-Risk Afterschool and SFSP

June 21, 2023

Serving meals to young people year-round benefits children, families, and care providers. To do this, many providers transition from operating the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool (ARAS) during the school year to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) while school is out. For an overview of the main differences between SFSP and CACFP ARAS, see the comparison chart below.

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NCA Support as Covid-19 Flexibilities Come to an End

June 16, 2023

NCA understands that the end of flexibilities will cause challenges for many CACFP sponsors and providers and we commend your continued commitment to providing nutritious meals and snacks to the children or adults in your care. In preparation for the end of the additional reimbursement, we have collected the following resources to help you successfully provide meals even if your available budget decreases.

Read More

New Feature Available on the Exhibit A Grains Tool

March 22, 2023

The Exhibit A Grains Tool has a new feature that allows users to select their Program and Meal to filter the search results to only creditable grain items for their specific Program.

Read More

New Factsheet for ECE Providers from the CDC

March 16, 2023

CDC created three new fact sheets for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers about Early Child Nutrition and Feeding. The fact sheets offer tips and best practices for supporting breastfeeding families, information about safe storage and handling of breastmilk, and strategies for introducing solid foods.

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FRAC Research Funding Opportunity

August 17, 2023

FRAC has announced a Request for Proposal (RFP) for subgrants for its Equitable Access in Child Nutrition Programs project, supported by funding through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS). Submit your CACFP proposal by October 3, 2023, at 11:59pm ET.

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Child Care Supports Academic Achievement and Physical Health

August 10, 2023

A study published in March of 2023, examines the impact of child care on the dietary quality of young children, as well as portrays the need for a more inclusive definition of ‘child care.’ Access to high-quality care supports the academic and social development of your children and is important for all families to reduce socioeconomic disparities.

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Share Your CACFP Experience in this Nationwide Survey

June 22, 2023

Participate by July 14 in a nationwide survey of CACFP Sponsors and Providers being conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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Child Nutrition Program Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

June 2, 2023

In May 2023, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a report focused on Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operations during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, March through September 2020, including information on the nationwide waivers that FNS approved for use during that period.

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Barriers and Facilitators of Center-Based ECE Program Participation in the CACFP

May 25, 2023

In April 2023, the Indiana University CACFP Project Team published a study on the barriers, facilitators, and potential strategies to address center-based participation in the CACFP. One of the key barriers to participation shared by study participants included the cumbersome CACFP paperwork. Facilitators to participation included supports provided by stakeholders and sponsors.

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Fruit, Vegetable, and Sugar Sweetened Beverage Intake Among Children

March 28, 2023

In February 2023, the CDC released state-level data on fruit, vegetable, and sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) intake among young children. The data was collected through a 2021 national survey in which respondents were asked three questions about children aged 1–5 years regarding the frequency of consuming fruits, vegetables, and sugar-sweetened beverages during the preceding week. The report found that many young children between ages 1 and 5 years old are not eating fruits and vegetables each day and are regularly drinking SSBs.

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CACFP participant child hands making heart symbol

CACFP Inspire: Kidz Korner in Payson, Arizona

November 21, 2022

Eleven years ago, Lidia Madrid opened Kidz Korner in Payson, Arizona to see her children and other local children grow up and learn safely in a town where there were limited child care options.

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Headshot of Shedron Davis over a beige background

CACFP Inspire: Shedron Davis of Alpha & Omega Nutrition Program, Inc in Memphis

October 25, 2022

Shedron Davis is the Founder and Executive Director of Alpha & Omega, and her mission is to empower children to succeed through a healthy lifestyle.

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CACFP Inspire: Jessica Coleman of Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens in Virginia

October 20, 2022

Jessica Coleman is the children’s day care supervisor and CACFP manager at Generations, an intergenerational daycare in Virginia.

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CACFP Inspire: Andrea Rivera of Christian Military Academy, Puerto Rico

October 13, 2022

With experience and credentials like hers, it’s no surprise that the Food and Nutrition Services office selected Andrea Rivera to create a new community food service program at the start of the pandemic.

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An adult man, Kyle Jackson, wearing a blue t-shirt stands in front of evergreen trees.

CACFP Inspire: Kyle Jackson of Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County

October 5, 2022

Kyle Jackson is an area director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County, and a true leader in executing at-risk after school meal operation

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CACFP Inspire: PATCH

September 28, 2022

People Attentive to Children Hawaii, PATCH, has a straightforward mission: to support and improve the quality and availability of care for the young people of Hawaii. In fact, this mission is stated so plainly that it could be misunderstood as easy when it is simply direct.

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